Abstract

Introduction

Expanding access to HIV antiretroviral treatment is expected to decrease HIV incidence and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) mortality. However, this may also result in increased HIV drug resistance (DR). Better monitoring and surveillance of HIV DR is required to inform treatment regimens and maintain the long term effectiveness of antiretroviral drugs. As there is currently no formal European Union (EU)-wide collection of HIV DR data, this study aimed to assess the current HIV molecular surveillance capacity in EU/European Economic Area (EEA) countries in order to inform the planning of HIV DR monitoring at EU level. Methods: Thirty EU/EEA countries were invited to participate in a survey on HIV molecular surveillance capacity, which also included laboratory aspects. Results: Among 21 responding countries, 13 reported using HIV sequence data (subtype and/or DR) for surveillance purposes at national level. Of those, nine stated that clinical, epidemiological and sequence data were routinely linked for analysis. Discussion/conclusion: We identified similarities between existing HIV molecular surveillance systems, but also found important challenges including human resources, data ownership and legal issues that would need to be addressed.Information on capacities should allow better planning of the phased introduction of HIV DR surveillance at EU/EEA level.

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European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC). The 2016 ECDC roadmap for integration of molecular and genomic typing into European level surveillance and epidemic preparedness Version 2.1, 2016-19. Stockholm: ECDC; 2016.

World Antibiotic Awareness Week on 12–18 November increases global awareness of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and encourages best practices among health workers, policy makers and the general public to avoid the further emergence and spread of AMR. Read our Editorial on AMR surveillance in Europe and beyond.